1) don't repeat yourself. if you're saying the same thing again you're wasting your time, the other people involved aren't paying attention to your words anyways. at the best say "see my previous post" but honestly even this isn't worth the little effort it takes.

2) don't chase moving goalposts. given a chance someone backed up to the wall with facts will merrily have you discussing the futility of penny production in the US when the original topic was concealed carry permits. either steer back onto topic or ignore the off-topic ramblings.

3) 99% of the internet is just trolling out of boredom. if you're going to entertain someone at least get paid for it.

Really? Every time? So, if some conspiracy kook starts spouting nonsense about the CIA using alien technology recovered from Roswell to bring down the Towers in order to appease Xenu and begin a New World Order in the name of Obama, and a sane person mentions that Occam's Razor shiats all over their theory and calls it a dirty whore, the sane person loses?

Really? Every time? So, if some conspiracy kook starts spouting nonsense about the CIA using alien technology recovered from Roswell to bring down the Towers in order to appease Xenu and begin a New World Order in the name of Obama, and a sane person mentions that Occam's Razor shiats all over their theory and calls it a dirty whore, the sane person loses?

I think they mean that it isn't proof of anything.It's like we argue about Jesus riding a dinosaur and you close it by saying "...but, SCIENCE!".

Science is a method. The fossil record or some bible verse may be proof (such as it is), but the means for divining that proof isn't a conclusion on its own.

I Like Bread:LittleSmitty: The fastest way to end and argument is to say "you're right". You don't "win", but it takes the wind out of their sails because they have no ground to argue at that point.

I used that tactic a lot. It works great unless you are the type that needs to have the last word.

Doesn't that qualify as having the last word?

Sometimes, but that's not the point. Some people aren't prepared for that response and you sometimes end up with the last word. But the flipside is the "I told you so" response. But as long as you can hold your tongue while they gloat, the argument is essentially over.

I didn't see the just shutting down the computer to go out drinking option, I have been using that option quite a bit.lately. Too much time wasted arguing with people to lazy to look it up themselves.....